Curb appeal: Minimal enhancements had maximum effect

The initial appearance was not encouraging, but the potential was there. Charcoal coloured shutters and signature red doors bring "pop" to the appearance of the house.

Photograph by: Handout photo / Suzanne Rowe
, The Gazette

My initial impression from this century old triplex was not favourable. I thought it looked dingy and was not crazy about the turquoise accents. I was concerned about the vicinity to the foundation of the 60-year-old silver maple. But since the proprietor insists that there’s no apparent danger, I kind of like the old fellow now. The more I was examining the facade, the more I discovered the potential for a successful makeover. Stunning architectural elements that needed to be showcased and original layering of the bricks were a few of my favourite things.

Aside from the obvious fact that the imperative repair of the slanting second floor balcony was going to be onerous, the house was a good example on how to improve its curb appeal by giving a special attention to details. Minimal enhancements with massive results.

Warmer and bolder colours would provide a nice contrast with the colour of the wall. Repetition of the same white annuals could effectively scale-up the distinguish factor. The grey beige bricks are a bit soiled from city pollution. A pastel turquoise colour for all wooden features only emphasizes the discoloration of the wall. Except for the doors and the foundation, all the turquoise components; the contours of the balconies, the facing of the steps on the ground floor, all the architectural details and the contours of the twin second floor doors should be painted charcoal in a semi-gloss finish. The new shutters will be the same colour also.

The new charcoal flower boxes will be made-to-measure filling the whole length of the balconies. They should be secured properly to the exterior front of the floors. The two others on the first level ought to be as wide as the windows and attached directly under the ledges. All of these as well as the shutters will all be charcoal.

Everything that is made of steel will receive a fresh coat of inky black semi-gloss paint. For a more coherent feel, the sculptural easels above the two doors will be replicated and replace the metal ones on top of the main front door. The underside of the galleries as well as the wood floors and steps should be painted in medium warm grey beige without pink or green pigmentations.

All the turquoise concrete ledges at the base of the windows and the foundation ought to be the exact identical dirty colour as the brick wall in a matte surface.

The bottom step of the spiral stairwell should be the same matte colour as the concrete floor. Bigger address numbers in a serif typo and in the same finish as the door handles will be installed above the entrances. By now, you may have noticed my signature red door in my designs. In the case of this house especially, a warm hit of this happy tint is a boost of youth. A beige and black exterior carpet helps conceal the bare concrete floor and cozy up the entrance.

Since the actual lot is made of concrete and because the roots of the elder tree basically monopolize the small amount of soil available, the owner ingeniously built a raised flower box around it. The inner empty space near the trunk was filled with river stones. I propose to add more beige ones until the surface becomes visible.

The new flower boxes will be the stages for the next festival of annuals. This year, the white blooms will perform and next year maybe a red show. The owner’s Juniperus and one of her white Spirea will be hosted by big-scale classic iron black urns.

The other Spirea will be planted in the wings, in a corner under the big tree. For the wintertime, these shrubs will have to retreat to the backyard’s soil. In the colder seasons, beautiful branches of evergreen decorated with red fruits could replace the annuals in the flower boxes and containers.

Experienced gardeners skilfully seeded the two smaller trees in cracks in the alleys. Aside from their great talent for seducing us with their melodies, these unknown birds did know how to leave their imprint among all our artificial elements.

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